At a sold out Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro this morning, the New Zealand Rio 2016 Paralympic Team marched out alongside 4,350 athletes from 160 countries.
The team, led by 21-year-old Hokitika native Holly Robinson, currently number one in the world in the Women's Javelin F46, enjoyed a typically bright Rio entrance, with the theme "Every Body Has A Heart."
![The Paralympic Opening Ceremony. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/3O7TAOSY3IXXZSFK3R4MTI5FKI.jpg?auth=d0c8447836c53e28ebd4c183550900027e5e61dfcba489b8d442ef9436c29bd4&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
The 31-strong New Zealand Paralympic Team will contest six Para-Sports, chasing a target of 18 medals in total, including 12 gold medals.
The Opening Ceremony marked the official beginning of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games - the world's largest multi-sport event for disabled athletes.